Welcome to Toa Payoh. Looking for Japanese places?

Part of Japan Melon Fair
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Slices of Japanese melon on top of a tart made of no-bake cheese cream
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The Japanese melons were juicy and super sweet

From Saizeriya
苹果奶酥雪糕
Warm, comforting, and utterly delicious!
This dessert is a masterclass in textures and flavors.
The warm apple filling is tender and sweet, the cookie crumb adds a satisfying crunch, and the scoop of vanilla ice cream provides a creamy contrast.
A perfect treat to cozy up with!
$4.90 only

From Saizeriya
水牛芝士小番茄
Fresh and divine!
The buffalo mozzarella cheese paired with sweet cherry tomatoes is a match made in heaven.
Creamy, tangy, and utterly delightful.
A perfect appetizer or snack that's sure to please!
$3.90 only

From Saizeriya
培根炒菠菜
A simple yet satisfying delight!
The sautéed spinach with bacon from this neighborhood restaurant is a flavorful treat.
Fresh spinach is cooked to perfection, retaining its crisp texture, and paired with crispy, smoky bacon that adds a rich depth of flavor.
A great side dish or snack that's both healthy and indulgent.
Highly recommended!
$2.90 only

From Saizeriya
意式烤羊排
Wow, what a showstopper!
The Tuscan Lamb Chop from this neighborhood restaurant is a must-try.
Served sizzling hot on a scorching plate, the lamb is cooked to perfection - tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
The aromatic herbs and spices transport you to Tuscany, and the portion is generous to say the least.
Don't miss this mouthwatering dish!
$10.90 only

From Saizeriya
炖牛肉丸与菠菜
Comfort food at its best!
The meatball stew from this neighborhood Japanese-Italian restaurant is a hearty and satisfying treat.
Good portions of tender meatballs and sautéed spinach, accompanied by a surprisingly large serving of sweet corn.
A delightful fusion of flavors and a great value for the price. Highly recommended!
$7.90 only

From Saizeriya
Seasonal item.
The BBQ sauce pork ribs were tender and flavorful, perfectly complemented by the sides of corn, spinach, and potato wedges.
The seasonal promotion offered a delicious and satisfying meal.

Growing up, I was never a fan of bittergourd but have since gained a new found appreciation for it in recent years.

Goya Chanpuru is one of the representative dishes of Okinawan cuisine. It is a relatively simple dish which combines bittergourd, tofu and meat.

KK Kitchen serves their Goya Chanpuru with bittergourd, egg, tofu and pork. It's a tad bitter for my liking but I love that the bittergourd has a nice crunch and there is a nice wokhei to this dish.

KK Kitchen also serves a good pork katsu curry don. The pork katsu was quite crispy considering that it was 'trapped' in a bento box for nearly 30 mins and was juicy and tender. I also like that the curry was thick, rich and not too sweet!

I used to frequent Nirai-Kinai, an Okinawan diner at Liang Court which has since shifted to Great World City. Okinawan food is rather interesting as it differs greatly from Mainland Japanese cuisine and is greatly influenced by Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines.

You will find saba shioyaki in most Japanese diners but I really enjoyed their flaky and boneless saba fillet and the lemon soy sauce dip on the side. The couple who runs KK Kitchen previously worked at Nirai-Kinai and has brought over some of these Okinawan dishes. For a $2 top up, you get to enjoy their kufa jushi or Okinawan seasoned mixed rice which is cooked with pork, carrots, seaweed, and Shiitake mushroom. The rice is full of umami and is to be honest great on its own.

Yes, it's a little pricey for a neighbourhood kopitiam setting but I really enjoyed KK Kitchens food which was homely, healthy tasting and tasty!

Their pastas tend to be lacking in flavour but my fave item on the menu is the egg salad and bedder cheddar sausage!

Châteraisé sets themselves apart from its competitors by constantly delivering unique collections with seasonal fruits from Japan. They have concocted fruit cakes with persimmons, pears, grapes, plum, and even cantaloupe — always keeping their items fresh and interesting. If you enjoy fruit cakes or love fruit infused desserts in general, the options Châteraisé have are myriad, and the fact that it is always changing can keep you excited! This time, the specialty fruit brought in is the Sumo Citrus Orange, which is also known as such because of the very amusing topknot-like bump on every orange. Sumo oranges are bigger than your average orange, and trust me, they are way juicier. I know that it is the Lunar New Year season when we have more than enough mandarin oranges to consume, but you really don’t want to miss out on how juicy an orange can get. From now until the 28 February, you can get your hands on a Sumo Citrus Orange dessert at any Châteraisé outlet. Not only do they have sliced cakes, they have whole cakes, cheesecakes, crepe cakes, tarts, and even parfaits — all with this glorious orange fruit. If you’re looking for a dessert to end your Lunar New Year meal with your family, nothing is more apt than the choices in this Sumo Citrus collection.

Laid my hands on a slice of this seasonal fruit cake at the Châteraisé Toa Payoh branch, where they have seats outside (yes you don’t always have to takeaway!). The Japanese Sumo Citrus Fruits Sand slice was an absolute delight to have. The sponge cake was soft and fluffy, and the fresh cream was light and not too overpowering. The spread in between the sponge layers had bits of peach, pear, and strawberry, which gave a slight sweetness to the overall taste of the cake. The delicate sweetness was complemented with the juicy, citrus sumo orange chunks, which gave a nice tanginess to the cake.

In addition, Châteraisé has a wide range of presentable hampers and gift options for this visiting season. I always struggle finding appropriate gifts during this season, primarily because I know the many boxes of pineapple tarts, kueh bangkits, and CNY goodies some families have already. So if you are looking for easy, beautiful, and unique gift alternatives, you can consider Châteraisé’s rice cracker assortment box, which comes individually packaged for convenience as well. They also have fruit jelly assortments, sandwich cookie boxes, and even wine!

Thank you Châteraisé for the invite and very informative sharing!

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